Police arrest woman who started new life after escaping from prison in 1979
Nancy Garces was serving a sentence for credit card fraud when she escaped from a state prison nearly 32 years ago.
She was never heard from again -- until this week. Garces was arrested in Santa Barbara and returned to state prison, officials said.
Authorities picked her up after a tip that she was taking a train into the city from New Mexico, where she lived under the alias Lydia Mendez.
“We would like to commend the Santa Barbara Police Department for its prompt and efficient action in apprehending the escaped felon Nancy Garces,” said Michael Ruff, special agent in charge for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Office of Correctional Safety, Special Service Unit. “This is a message to all at-large felons that California law enforcement agents never give up when searching for fugitives.”
Garces arrived at the prison on Feb. 16, 1979, after being convicted in Butte County. According to prison officials, she escaped that May. A visitor had come that day, and officials assumed Garces went back to her cell afterward. But they discovered she was gone after a prisoner count hours later.
"It was determined that she went directly to her escape point and was able to scale a fence in the maintenance compound," officials said in the press release.
Prison guards searched the surrounding area but could not find her.
Officials did not provide information about what her life was like in New Mexico or whether she had a family.
-- Andrew Blankstein
Photo: Nancy Garces shown in a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation photograph taken in 1979.
EDITOR'S PICKS:
"We would like to commend the Santa Barbara Police Department for its prompt and efficient action in apprehending the escaped felon Nancy Garces.”
Yep! Prompt and efficient. It only took them 32 years.
Posted by: Alfredo Hurtado | January 13, 2011 at 03:46 PM
I mean really, if you're going to escape jail, the least you could do is skip the country. You'll always have a price on your head and always looking over your shoulder. Go somewhere that doesn't have automatic extradition to the US and start a new life.
Posted by: MyPlanet | January 13, 2011 at 03:53 PM
If she wants to post bail, do NOT take a credit card.
Posted by: FalseFlagUSA | January 13, 2011 at 04:46 PM
why are they arresting this woman when roman polanski is free ? she should be treated with the same respect he receives.
hollywood should be appalled at the actions of the police. i expect sean penn will be posting her bail any day followed by an airline ticket to europe purchased by babs.
:)
Posted by: miscalienous | January 13, 2011 at 05:01 PM
Yeah...way to go guys. I feel much safer with this kook off the streets.
Posted by: My Truth Hurts | January 13, 2011 at 05:10 PM
She is a non-violent felon and has not been in any trouble since her escape (32 years ago). She has proven she is rehabilitated and should be set free on probation for the remainder of her sentence. We don't need to spend $32000.00/year to keep her locked up.
Posted by: alan hart | January 13, 2011 at 05:17 PM
So how much are we going to spend housing and feeding her? She was going to jail for credit card fraud? Today, they slap you on the wrist and tell you to not do it again.
I am so glad that we spent time and money looking for her. Just like how Huntington Beach is looking for the identity of a Jane Doe from 1969.
Posted by: JC | January 13, 2011 at 05:21 PM
What is the point of this? Obviously she did not commit a violent crime and she didn't continue to commit crimes or else she would have been caught. I'd rather have the police department spend their resources on arresting gang bangers, murderers, rapists, sexual predators, rather than arresting some lady who escaped from prison 32 years ago and was doing time because of credit card fraud.
Posted by: Tommy Trojan | January 13, 2011 at 05:29 PM
Did they say if she was here legally? It would have been difficult to apply for amnesty while living under an assumed name.
Posted by: James Andrews | January 13, 2011 at 05:31 PM
With all the white collar crime and massive in my book public fraud from the Banks if she hasn't committed any crimes since her escape I'd be inclined to look the other way or give her probation...Sounds like a non violent crime to me..
Posted by: eyeonyou | January 13, 2011 at 05:42 PM
THROW THE BOOK AT HER!
Posted by: dirty guy | January 13, 2011 at 05:44 PM
Wow, ..trashed anyway, if she'd stayed put, she'd probably been out about 31 yrs ago and now, life does not look so free nor good, likely chased some sweetheart that soured..stuck, stay stuck
Posted by: KennyBouy-Naples | January 13, 2011 at 05:48 PM
LET IT GO ALREADY!! Quite wasting the taxpayers money on cases that mean nothing anymore.
Posted by: 1stresponce | January 13, 2011 at 05:57 PM
Leave her be. I see no need to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a prisoner who committed non violent crimes 33 years ago. There are more dangerous people to hunt down and lock up than this woman.
Posted by: syscom3 | January 13, 2011 at 05:57 PM
Credit card fraud?? Isn't that such a minor offense, especially after 32 years?
I would like to think the police have better things to do with their time!
Posted by: SanDiegoRules | January 13, 2011 at 06:03 PM
after 32 year that good running
Posted by: Mike | January 13, 2011 at 06:05 PM
What kind of reporting is this?
Where is the mention of her original sentence?
Posted by: dred | January 13, 2011 at 06:09 PM
Only credit card fraud??? Just let it/her go.... Investigators need to devote that much effort in finding and putting the REAL criminals away.
Posted by: JUSTICE/FREEDOM | January 13, 2011 at 06:11 PM
Really? What a waste of taxpayer money. And what kind of lowlife would call the cops on this person? Pathetic.
Posted by: lisa | January 13, 2011 at 06:16 PM
Credit card fraud. wow wee. Now go find some murderers.
Posted by: ladyofargonne | January 13, 2011 at 06:16 PM
A job well done for a pathetic case!
Posted by: Chuck Hodi | January 13, 2011 at 06:17 PM
Too many criminals, maybe we should fingerprint for all jobs ,housing,traffic stop, or all citizens or illegals in the US.
Posted by: teri | January 13, 2011 at 06:26 PM
You have to wonder if there isn't a better use of their time than hunting down credit card fraud after more than 20 years. Is that something to be proud of? Was joking when he said he commended the police for their swift action. They were given information and in essence trapped the woman when she was on a train. Isn't that a bit like shooting fish in a barrel?
Posted by: Lola | January 13, 2011 at 06:40 PM
Now let's hear about what a wonderful person she is and how she has a family (quite a feat for a felon, childbirth by a woman!)
She was riding a train, so she is sensitive to the environment, too. Maybe she can get an award and speak to school children?
She should have to finish her whole sentence and then get ANOTHER for escaping.
Posted by: Not in LA | January 13, 2011 at 06:55 PM
I bet that if you were her victim, you would be happy she is locked up. She committed crime right?
Posted by: Gary Coleman | January 13, 2011 at 08:20 PM